The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-07-07
HOW AMASA SNOW GOT ON
HIS FEET.

Amasa Snow sat In his little law Office,
his feet on the top rim of his stove, and
his stove full of wood and red hot. His
Office was about rod from his house,
and quite near the high wooden gate
leading into the village street, Over the
door read, "Prothonotary and Attorney
et-law.N 1t was huge, faded sign in
black letters; one could not go by Amasa
Shows office and not know of the bust
ness of its occupant. The trouble
with the sign was it was not aluring
enough, Squire Slayton, down the
street, with a very small sign and over a
grocery store and without a big white
house, and family name and connec-
tion-Squire Slayton somehow got all
the business there was going on in East
Chestcrvil,e. Amasa Snow sat tilted back
In his wooden armchair, pulling his long
chin leard, scratching the few gray hairs
in his sloping gray head, and trying to
conjure up some new scheme by which
he could beat Slayton again, and defer the
foreclosure sale. He had deferred it five
times on one excuse and another; but
Slayton had him this time; there was no
help for it. The old place would have to
be sold-the old place where his boyhood
had been passed until he went to college,
and where he had lived ever since, and
seen his six girls grow up about him
His six mothercss girls! lie reached
down and broke a splinter off bit of
pine-wood by the stove, and began to
chew hard on it. What would become
of the girls? Every one beauty in his
eyes; every one worthy of marrying the
Governor of the State. How could he
tell them that the sale of their old home
could be postponed no longer; that every
devise and trick, and every legal bubble,
had been tried and tried again? He darod
not tell the girls. He looked out
of the window; it was raining. An April
shower, to be sure, with the prospect of
golden sunset later on, but making
everything outside under the trees look
very muddy and dismal. Amasa Snow
felt very much depressed. Fate appeared
20 be against him.
There were his law books-a couple of
thousand dingy calf volumes, not kept up
to date the inheritance from the Judge,
his father, but even the law books were
'Chatteled, as they said, L. e., mort
gagged, quite beyond their value. Every
thing he had, in fact, was mortgaged.
He had come this wet April day to the
ind of things. Next week came the sale
He felt like saying-the delugc. He had
not enough money to take him and his
family out West.
That was his plan-to 90 West. He
hardly felt his fifty years. He felt young
and energetic when he thought Of the
West. By-the-by, there was his brother
Elisha-his brother who in his youth WIS
so like him. He was West-in Cali
fornia. He had not seen him for twenty
years. The last he had heard from him
was a request to send on hundred dol
lars. That was five years ago. He had
sent him fifty, and nothing had been
heard from Elisha since, except his name
endorsed across the back of the check,
showing that he had received the money.
No, it was clear that Elisha could
never help him. Elisha had caused him
to loose several thousand dollars once in
mine. Elisha's name was always a
great bugbear in his family since. No,
Elisha could not be expected to help
him. Stay! An idea. Amasa Snow be.
gan to poke the red hot fire vigorously.
1t was bleak raw day but the fire
was hot enough in that little office if left
alone. An idea. Elisha should be made
to help him. 1t was a last hope, but it
fired him with enthusiasm He reached
up into dusty book -case and got down
file of letters. He was looking for
Elisha's address.
Just then there came tap at the office
door, Amasa turned round. "By
George" he cried, nearly carried off his
feet with establishment. ats Elisha
Wpropria personal"
81 have come home" said Elisha.
meekly. 81 have come home to
neighbor round"
And just in the nick of time, Elisha.
Mighty glad | am to see you" Then a
thought occurred to him, as he shook his
brothers hand, with that feeble wave in
the air so common in Southern Connect
cut, he would not tell Elisha of his finan
clal condition He might not help him
if he did. No, he would keep his owl
counsel.
The two brothers sat down by tn,
stove, and Amasa threw another stick O
soft pine on the fire. 1t was frightfull,
hot. "See here, Elisha. he said, afteI
pause. "How's the Grand America,
Eagle a-doin'?"
'She isn't a-doin'"
"Nothin at all!n
"No hasn't been for ten wears"
cit waS a splendid mine once. Elisha
You used to say So
So it was. But we struck hard pal
you remember about it. What's tn
use of rakin' over old personalities at thi
time, when | ought to be received wit
open arms, and a bonfire lighted, an,
fireworks touched off,"
Il know, | know" replied Amasa
alphabetically. 81 ought to ask HOY
you have happened on East this way"
Why, yes; you ought to show som
brotherly feeling It's NATURAL
"Well, Elisha, have you got an,
ready money in your pocket"
"a thousand dollars"
Amasa walked over to his old rust
safe. Better put the money in here Z
hc dnhcu, casually EllSna nanQeQ MN
roll of bills. Don't feel like payin
back any of that two thousands" aske,
Amasa, facetiously, referring to the LOAF
he had made him in the mining scheme.
NO." said Elisha, 81 don't" After
pause, while his brother locked the safe
he said: THAT thousand is the last cen
I've got in the world"
"Glad you've come home. Glad you'v
come to dive with me. said Amasa. rub
bling his hands. THE girls will be s
happyto see you. Come, let's go in tn
house,
He slipped an old, well-worn overcoa
over his shoulders without buttoning il
and they went out into the rain. Elish
was very well dressed Any one woul
have taken him for well-to-do We ;ter
bank president. He looked sleek an
well fed. There wasn't trace of anxiet
about his face. Otherwise the brother
looked very much alike.
As they were crossing the threshold {
the house, Amasa whispered: "Just te
the girls you're a millionaire; for iok,
you know
Elisha winked. ''Yes.n he said, 'f,
joke-wish | was, though" and the
entered the parlor. There were the 81
Il -. Il